26 he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, "All of you who are on the LORD's side, come over here and join me." And all the Levites came.
27 He told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Strap on your swords! Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, killing even your brothers, friends, and neighbors."
28 The Levites obeyed Moses, and about three thousand people died that day.
29 Then Moses told the Levites, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Because of this, he will now give you a great blessing."
30 The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin, but I will return to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for you."
31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, these people have committed a terrible sin. They have made gods of gold for themselves.
32 But now, please forgive their sin--and if not, then blot me out of the record you are keeping."
33 The LORD replied to Moses, "I will blot out whoever has sinned against me.
34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about. Look! My angel will lead the way before you! But when I call the people to account, I will certainly punish them for their sins."
35 And the LORD sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made.
Read Exodus 33
